“I don’t have an answer to that question.”

Topeka, KS — Operation Rescue brought its staff and Truth Truck Fleet to the Kansas Capitol on January 19, to counter a pro-abortion rally and to visit the office of pro-abortion Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to hold her accountable for vetoing a clinic regulations bill that could have prevented a rash of injuries to women at George Tiller’s late-term abortion mill in Wichita, Kansas.

After praying outside the governor’s office, Troy Newman led a group of ten Rescuers into the office and asked for an appointment to speak with Sebelius or one of her staff members. Many of the Rescuers held 8 x 10 color photographs of ambulances transporting women to Wesley Medical Center after they received apparently life-threatening injuries at Tiller’s infamous Women’s Health Care Services.

At first, Larry, the governor’s receptionist, told the group they would have to leave and submit their request in writing. When it became apparent that the Rescuers would not take “no” for an answer, Larry arranged for a meeting between Rescuers and Sebelius’ Director of Constituent Services, Vicki Buening.

Newman and the others displayed their ambulance photos for Buening and asked for an investigation into the rash of injuries at Tiller’s abortion mill. They told Buening that they hold Gov. Sebelius responsible for the injuries because she vetoed legislation that would have provided regulations for clinics like Tiller’s. Rescuers indicated that it is unknown if any of the women in the photos even survived their injuries because there is no accurate reporting, and cover ups of these events are typical.

Beuning told Rescuers that it was not up to the governor, but up to the legislature to reintroduce the clinic regulation bill, and at that point the Governor would take a second look at it.

At that point Rescuer Cheryl Sullenger had an interesting and revealing exchange with Buening. The transcript of the conversation below was taken from a video tape Sullenger made of the meeting.

Sullenger: “But in the meantime, four women have been injured that we know of, that we are only aware of. How many more women have to be injured or even die? If these women can’t have babies, if these women are permanently injured, if these women end up in the grave, that is her [the governor’s] responsibility. See, now we have to wait for another legislative session. She could have signed that bill and prevented these injuries.”

Buening: “Now individuals involved in any of these kinds of mishandling of their medical care have the option to file a complaint against their provider with the Board of Healing Arts.”

Buening: “I don’t have an answer to that question.”
Buening then took the photographs and promised to present them to the governor with the concerns of the Rescuers.

Meanwhile, about 75 pro-abortion supporters gathered in the Rotunda for a brief rally “celebrating” abortion. Afterwards, Rescuers visited some of the tables where pro-abortion groups such as NOW and Tiller’s political action committee, ProKanDo, promoted their agendas.

The ProKanDo table was staffed by Sarah Anderson, Jennifer Wright, and abortion nurse Willow Eby. None of the women seemed happy to see members of Operation Rescue and were reluctant to dialog with them.

Sullenger visited the ProKanDo table and picked up materials that were being offered free to the public. Jennifer Wright took one of the fliers from Sullenger’s hand and then placed the stack behind a display board. When asked why she took the pamphlet, Wright responded, “Because you’re not invited.” Rescuers later obtained a copy of the flier that advertised the time and locations of several of ProKanDo events.

“The pro-abortion rally was actually an encouragement to us,” said Troy Newman. “It was poorly attended and over very quickly. They seemed have a defeatist attitude about the whole thing, admitting that their views are a minority opinion in our nation right now.”

“We were pleased to be able to take our Truth Truck fleet to the seat of Kansas government,” said Newman. “We were able to draw unprecedented attention to the plight of the pre-born simply by driving through town.”

And as for a future meeting with Gov. Sebelius? “Don’t count us out,” said Newman. “We will continue to shine the light of truth on the dirty secrets of the abortion industry, and plan to keep the governor more informed. I have great hope for the future that very soon abortion will be a tragic memory of the past. We work toward that day.”